St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-17
REFORM is NECESSARY.
The Bad State of Affairs in DER
auld County Seems to Grow
Worse For the Taxpayers.


Worse For the Taxpayers.
Special to the Globe.
Grow LAKE, Sept. 15.-The commits
Sioner muddle is daily becoming more
interesting. The press of the-county
are now taking hand in the expose,
while the daily papers circulated in this
vicinity are supplied with the Facts, and
the bOodler element are becoming dis
heartened. Still the abseonding treas
urer is at liberty, and no efforts are
being made to find him. In fact, it is
currently reported that the commission
erS have suggested to the sheriff that it
was their wish that he make no attempt
to obtain his arrest. The bOndsmen are
prepared to defeat every legal attempt
to force collection. They have EN-
ployed the most able legal talent in
South Dakota, and propose to fight to
the bitter end. Had an examination
been made of the treasurer's books any
time during the past two years
A SHORTAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN
FOUND,
but so small that the treasurer could
easily have made it up, but as the eX-
animation as designated by law was
from time to time passed and no eXami-
nation made, it doubtless became APP
parent that no such examination would
be made, and desire to speculate with
the county funds could not be resisted.
1t is very broadly limited that MIR. Will
Jams was the tool of other and sharper
rogueS. and he was led into the trap,
caught. and then frightened away by
those whom lie had befriended. In the
canvass of 1886 for his reelection, there
was bitter fight, not only in opposition
III. sNt
candidates on that ticket, and Williams,
being liberal and having the funds in
his hands. is supposed to have furnished
a great portion of the campaign funds.
During the whole canvass is was stated
by the anti-ring people that
CoUNTY'S AFFAIRS WE'RE IN BAD
SHAPE,
and needed yentilating. and the COM
mISSlonerS were requested to give the
people statement of the liabilities of
the county: but they ignored the re-
quest. A court house has been built
without a vote being taken, attorneys
say contrary to law; the road and bridge
fund has been taken as sinking fund
to pay interest OH court house bonds,
and we are left without paSsable roads
criminal cases have been transferred to
other counties while court was not in
SCoolOIi. dilu tfiS VI Tile WlOlt
of the term held in the other county, ex-
cepi a few items, was paid by this
county; and yet
TAXPAYERS GOT NO REPORT
except through the commissioners of
the other county. An examination of
the books of the treasurer was made
after his department. least the board
charged the county for time spent in
such eXamination--butt they fail to make
any report to the county of tile amount
of shortage. 1t is said the county indebt-
edness will run we'll up to $4,000, and
unless change is made this little new
county will he forced to repudiate. One
thing is certain. it is getting some 5000
to $4,000 in debt every year above the
whole tax, and the taxpayers are at last
awaking to realization of the fact that
something must be done, and that very
speedily. An attempt is being made to
have the county redistricted into five
commissioner districts. and if this is
done and two of the old commissioners
resign, as they will undoubtedly be re-
quested to do, Jerrauld county may be
able eventually to pay out.